52 
How little do we know at present of the mea 
various odours that we detect in certain species? Even the 
definition of it is not always easy; there is an appeal to us 
which we cannot satisfy. When we attempt to describe (from 
association with something else that we have recognised), then 
we find our limitations. It seems possible that there may be as 
wide a range in odour as there is in colour, but man’s sense of 
smell is so imperfect he cannot go much beyond the statement 
of pleasant or nauseous, spicy or nitrous. 
The arrangement of an Annual Meeting, the details so care- 
fully worked out by our Secretary, takes us into unfamiliar parts 
of our common country. If we are not all lovers of F ungi we 
enjoy the pleasure of seeing new places, towns and woodlands, 
which we should have had no necessity to visit without a definite 
object. We should hardly have been persuaded to undertake a 
trip to Ireland or Scotland without some settled purpose. We 
should have remained quietly at home. 
Our need, however, of recreation has tempted us to emerge 
into the open. Thus we become associated with others, a 
spirit of cordiality is generated, healthy emulation arises amongst 
us, we resume our avocations with body and mind refreshed. 
The particular form of our recreation stimulates to further 
effort to know and learn more. Our ability in our respective 
callings is in no way lessened, but rather increased, by our 
method of taking holiday. I think we can agree to the state- 
ment that has been made, There is quite enough work to be 
done within the compass of a single parish to keep a man’s mind 
fresh and vigorous and to give him a chance of contributing 
something to the world’s knowledge. 
The study of Fungi, as it unfolds before us, presents objects 
of marvellous beauty, and through this method of recreative 
pleasure, it holds, I venture to think, a high position. There is 
a beauty of colour, of exquisite workmanship, of graceful form, 
that offers some of the purest enjoyment that the mind can 
reflect upon. 
“To the attentive eye,” says the American Emerson, “each 
moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field it 
beholds every hour a picture that was never seen before and 
shall never see again. The heavens change every moment and 
reflect their glory or gloom on the plains beneath.” . 
The beauty we so often behold among the Fungi is very fugi- 
tive, but most striking in its manifestation, it may be visible ma 
cluster of say scores, of Craterium cups growing on a half-buried 
fir chip, scarlet and orange in shades of remarkable elegance, 
hidden often from the casual eye till turned upwards to the light 
of day. We have, too, the vivid tints of red in the Russule of 
violet or blue which we associate with the Leptonias or the 
ning of the 
